JUNE 2, 2008 SUBSCRIBE

Firm Update

June 2, 2008

Letter From the Chairman

As we approach the election season, the legislative agenda in Washington is shrinking. In the short time remaining in this Congress, you will want to redouble your efforts to achieve your legislative goals. But, you will also want to be spending a good deal of time planning for 2009.

This is the time to focus on what may be an historic Congress in 2009, full of great activity, regardless of which candidate is elected president. While the political landscape remains undefined in some ways, one thing is crystal clear: this will be an election about delivering change in Washington. By the end of next year, your business and business in general may be significantly affected by a host of new policies, statutes and rules.

The Senate will be in session for four weeks in June debating a number of major issues that must be voted on during this month. The Majority Leader plans to turn to the consideration of climate change legislation when the Senate returns today. It is unclear how much time the Senate will devote to this matter and many are skeptical that this legislation will garner the 60 votes for necessary for cloture on the substance of the bill.

It is likely that climate change legislation will be followed by either a narrow Medicare package (which will be driven by the need to fix the physician payment issue) or the housing bill. In whichever order they come, these will most likely be the next two bills considered. Also listed for possible floor consideration in June is the tax extenders proposal and the Department of Defense authorization legislation, currently being discussed as the bill that will be considered the week of June 23rd. Finally, if the supplemental appropriations bill is sent to the White House and is vetoed, that will also have to be considered before the July 4th recess.

From our vantage point, the "must do" items on this list are the supplemental and the Medicare package. In another month or two, Members will look to the elections and schedule more political votes that they hope will resonate with voters in November.

Smart companies are laying the groundwork right now for an extremely busy 2009. The first 100 days of the new administration will undoubtedly be active, and QGA wants to ensure that you are engaged and strategically well-positioned for your priority issues in the next legislative session. Unless you take advantage of the coming months to strengthen your resources in strategic ways, the coming wave of legislative activity may overwhelm you and your ability to affect outcomes.

QGA is counseling clients to focus on strategic planning, organizing your grassroots networks, developing your digital advocacy campaigns, and positioning your important issues before key policy makers NOW. You do not want to be caught behind the curve next year!

QGA remains active developing and executing effective campaigns that incorporate the entire public affairs tool box: lobbying, digital advocacy, communications, and grassroots. Working in collaboration with industry leaders like Dewey Square Group, a strategic marketing and grassroots communications firm, and Virilion, a full-service interactive agency that specializes in digital campaigns, QGA continues to offer sound advice, strategic counsel, and effective program execution.

If you would like to schedule a meeting to discuss how we may better position you to stay ahead of the curve, please let us know. We are committed to delivering exceptional results for our clients.

Jack Quinn
Chairman
Quinn Gillespie & Associates

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Best in the Business: Hired Guns April 24, 2008

"The Hill's annual list of top lobbyists reflects the greater importance Democratic lobbyists play, while not forgetting the Republicans in town who maintain a major role in crafting legislation, particularly in the Senate, where voting margins are so close. Today's list names the best "hired guns" and corporate lobbyists. To compile our list, we talked to key congressional aides and lobbyists themselves. Manuel Ortiz, Quinn Gillespie & Associates. Ortiz was on the finance committee for Sen. John Kerry's (D-Mass.) 2004 presidential campaign and is well connected to several Democratic senators. Jack Quinn, Quinn Gillespie & Associates. Republican partner Ed Gillespie may leave from time to time, but Quinn always keeps the firm on course by hiring people like Kevin Kayes, a former chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and Allison Giles, a former chief of staff to then-House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.)."

Post 200: The Regions's Biggest Companies The Washington Post May 12, 2008

Quinn Gillespie is one of Washington's largest lobbying firms. Jack Quinn is a former aide to President Bill Clinton. Ed Gillespie left the firm in June to serve as a top policy adviser to President Bush. Gillespie is also a former chairman of the Republican National Committee. The firm's international practice has expanded with clients such as the Republic of Macedonia, Republika Srpska and Pink Media, a Serbian television and radio company.

"Lobbying Firms were ranked by how much they collected from clients in 2007, based on data from the Center for Responsive Politics."

QGA International

Today's global business and political landscape is complex. QGA has a long and established track record of managing our foreign client's critical issues of importance and is uniquely positioned to provide them with an effective Washington presence. QGA's international practice represents such foreign entities as Republic of Macedonia, Republika Srpska and Pink Media. QGA also has expertise in advising clients on political and regulatory issues in their foreign investments, both in the U.S. and in other markets.

Most recently, QGA successfully worked with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Corporation on its acquisition of Standard Areo and Landmark Aviation. QGA is currently working with EADS in its successful bid for a contract from the U.S. Air Force to supply next-generation refueling tanker aircraft and in its decision to partner with Northrop Grumman. In 2005, QGA helped Bank of America acquire a nine percent stake in the China Construction Bank for $2.5 billion. At the time, it represented the company's largest foray into China's growing banking sector and was met with skepticism by BoA's shareholders.

Client Spotlight: ACCCE

QGA works on behalf of ACCCE, a recently established coalition of 40 companies which includes coal producers, utilities, and railroads, to promote ACCCE's interests during consideration of climate change legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives. QGA was instrumental in the launch of the coalition and its rollout of policy principles related to climate change with the press and with policy makers on Capitol Hill. QGA is currently working with ACCCE in advance of consideration of S. 2331, the Warner-Lieberman climate change bill, to position ACCCE as a key player in the emerging climate change debate by emphasizing the organization's desire to work for a reasonable bill that takes into account both environmental and economic concerns.

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Communications

QGA is pleased to announce it has added Patricia McMurray to its notable stable of communications talent. Pat comes to QGA after serving six years in Burson-Marsteller's Washington D.C. media practice. She worked with clients in the energy and healthcare sectors, specializing in strategic messaging and positioning. Prior to her engagement at Burson-Marsteller, McMurray worked at two trade associations: the American Gas Association and the Edison Electric Institute. She was a former news writer, producer and editor at MSNBC, CNN and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

"We are very excited to have Pat join Quinn Gillespie & Associates' growing communications practice," said Jack Quinn." Her agency background and sharp industry focus will be a tremendous asset as we work to help QGA clients address complex public affairs issues."

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QGA Luncheon Series

QGA's successful lunch series is gaining momentum in 2008.

This year the firm has welcomed a number of government leaders from key committees to join industry leaders to discuss the legislative agenda. These roundtable discussions are an excellent opportunity for our clients and other industry stakeholders to learn more about the state of play and to ask the important questions that impact their business.

On May 19, QGA welcomed Tony Blinken, Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, who discussed the Committee's priorities in the coming months. Mr. Blinken said that "longer term" challenges-including issues like climate change and relations with China, India, Russia, and the European Union-will shape the content of the Committee's work for the duration of the current session.

QGA's next roundtable luncheon will be held on June 6th and feature Gregg Rothschild, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel, House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

In 2008, QGA has welcomed Keith Hennessey, Assistant to the U.S. President for Economic Policy and Director of the U.S. National Economic Council; Shawn Maher, Majority Staff Director/Chief Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Sharon Soderstrom, Deputy Chief of Staff, Senator Mitch McConnell; Russ Sullivan, Majority Staff Director, Senate Committee on Finance; Margaret Cummisky, Staff Director and Chief Counsel, Committee on Commerce, Science & Technology; Michele Varnhagan, Labor Policy Director, Majority Staff, Committee on Education and Labor; and Maria Cino and Melissa Koenigsberg with the 2008 Republican and Democratic Conventions, respectively.

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QGA Spotlight: Harriet Melvin

QGA's Harriet Melvin has been selected to serve on the Presidential Review Board that will examine and make recommendations for SES appointees to receive the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award. Each year, the President recognizes and celebrates a small group of career senior executives for their exceptional long-term accomplishments. The panel of 10 members will meet this month to review the applications and make final recommendations.

Harriet is also serving on the executive committee of Women Impacting the Nation (WIN). Rep. Kay Granger, House Conference Secretary and only woman in the GOP leadership, formed this group last year with other key Members of Congress and high level women in the Administration and lobbying world. WIN is a national women's initiative led by Republican women leaders aimed at mobilizing women to make a difference in the 2008 election. WIN focuses on increasing Republican and Independent female voter turnout through women's outreach, strategic communications, national, state and local events, and fundraising.

Harriet brings more than 15 years experience in government affairs and business to QGA. Prior to joining the firm, she served as Vice President for Federal Government Affairs for Circuit City Stores and CarMax.

ABOUT QUINN GILLESPIE & ASSOCIATES

Quinn Gillespie & Associates (QGA), formed in 2000 by Jack Quinn, White House Counsel to President Bill Clinton and Chief of Staff to Vice President Al Gore, and Ed Gillespie, former Republican National Committee Chairman, provides public affairs counsel to leading corporations, coalitions and trade associations. One of the only firms to integrate lobbying and communications services, QGA's team of nearly 30 professionals bring a bipartisan, multi-disciplinary approach to helping clients successfully manage public affairs challenges. For more information, please visit www.qga.com or contact Stacey Morton Bowlin at 202-429-6879.

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